Fluid compressor



p 3, 1940. w. w. PAGET 2,213,256

FLUID COMPRESSOR Filed Jan. 5. 1957 120042502: ZZMWP e/Z flu AM,

Patented Sept. 3, l940 UNITED T STATES PATENT OFFICE rLumcoMrnEsson Win Paget, Michigan City, Ind., assignmto Sullivan Machinery Company, a corporation of Massachusetts Application January 5, 1937, Serial No. 119,125

8 Claims.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved head structure for the cylinder of a fluid compressor or pump'and having improved flow passages whereby, due to streamlining and proportioning, a smooth flow of fluid to the compressor inlet valves and from the discharge valves of the compressor is attained. Another object is to provide an improved cylinder and cylinder head structure for a fluid compressor or pump having associated therewith a valve mechanism of an improved design. A further object is to provide an improved flow passage arrangement for the fluid so that turbulence and edd-ying within the passages is reduced to a minimum due to streamlining and proportioning. Still another object is to provide an improved fluid compressor or pump having an improved combined inlet and discharge valve mechanism. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawing there is shown for purposes of illustration one form which the invention may assume in practice.

In this drawing,

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through the head end of a fluid compressor or pump cylinder in which the illustrative form of the invention is incorporated.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken substantialiy on line 22 of Fig. 1.

In this illustrative embodiment of the invention there is shown a fluid compressor or pump of the vertical cylinder type,although it will be evident that the invention may be embodied in flu d compressors or pumps of various other types. The compressor shown comprises a cylinder I in whose bore 2 a piston 3 is reciprocable, the latter having any appropriate reciprocating means. Supported on the top of the cylinder is an intermediate plate 4 arranged between the cylinder and a cylinder head 5. Preferably formed integral with the cylinder is a fluid discharge passage 6, while formed within the head 5 is a fluid intake passage 1. The intermediate plate 4 has openings 8 and 9, the opening 8 registering with and constituting an extension of the cylinder bore, while the opening 9 registers with the fluid discharge passage 6 in the manner clearly shown in Fig. l. Formed in the head 5 is a fluid discharge passage l0 communicating with the discharge passage 6 through the opening 9 in the intermediate plate. The cylinder head 5 and intermediate head have abutting plane surfaces and are secured to the cylinder l by any suitable means, such as studs H, extending through registering holes in the head and plate and threaded into tapped holes around the top of the cylinder wall. A valve plate l2, herein constituting a valve cage and also, as later described, providing a valve seat surface, and annular in shape, isrsecurely held to the bottom of the cylinder head in a position concentric with the cylinder bore by screws I3 extending through openings in the head and threaded within tapped holes provided in the valve plate. As shown, this valve plate. is arranged within the opening 8 in the intermediate plate 4 and is formed with a centrally located circular opening M which surrounds a depending circular boss IS on the bottom of the cylinder head with sufficiently greater diameter than the boss to provide an unbroken annular fluid passage between the wall of the opening I and the periphery of the boss. Also formed in the valve plate I2 is an annular series of passages l6. and the plate is counter-bored at I] at its upper side to form an annular recess or chamber for an annular inlet valve l8 and valve seating spring 20. The valve I 8 is herein in the form of an annular disc or plate, while the spring is of the transversely flexed or bowed annular type,

although it will be evident that any suitable form of valve and valve spring may be employed. The annular series of passages l6 communicate with the valve receiving recess I! at its outer periph-' ery, and the valve l8 seats at 2| on the bottom plane surface of the head. Formed in the head and controlled by the valve I8 is a series of arcuate inlet passages 22 communicating with the intake passage 1. Also formed in the bottom portion of the cylinder head is an annular recess 23 providing a chamber in which there is arranged a valve 24 and valve seating spring 25, this valve and valve spring being similar to but of greater diameter than the valve [8 and spring 20, and this valve seats about its outer edge on the upper plane (surface of the intermediate plate 4, as shown in Fig. 1 and at its inner side upon an annular valve seat surface 26 formed at the outer edge of the top of the valve plate l2. Arranged between the wall of the bore 8 in the intermediate plate 4 and the outer periphery of the valve plate I2 is an annular passage 21 controlled by the valve 24. The valve recess 23 side.

is connected through a series of passages 28 with the fluid discharge passa e II. It will be noted that the inlet valve I8 is of greater width than the arcuate passages 22, so that the valve spans the edges of the latter and contacts the flat surface of the head member which forms the inlet valve seat. In like manner, the annular discharge valve 24 is of suflicient width to span the annular discharge passage 21 created by the diilerence in diameters of the bore of the opening I in the intermediate plate andthe valve plate l2, so that when closed the valve 24 seats on the outside upper edge 01 the valve plate I! on the one side and theupper edge of the opening I in the intermediate plate 4 on the other It will be noted that the upper side of the compressor piston 3 is fashioned in cup-shape at 2!, having an annular outer peripheral lip I! of such form as will, when the piston is at the top of its stroke, enter and'flll as completely as is safe, the entire volume of the annular discharge passage 21 formed between the inner wall of the opening 8 in the intermediate plate and the exterior periphery of the annular valve plate 12. This arrangement materially reduces the clearance, a result greatly to be desired in improving the volumetric efficiency of such compressors or pumps.

The improved flow passage arrangement, wherein the flow passages are shaped and proportioned in a novel manner, will now be described. Theories of fluid flow supported by numerous demonstrations, establish the fact that greater transmission efflciency can be secured in fluid passages if the same be proportioned and shaped so that fluctuations in velocity, eddy currents, and objectionable turbulence are avoided. The fluid passages are shaped and proportioned to accomplish this end in large degree. The intake and discharge passages in the cylinder head communicating with the inlet and discharge passages controlled by the valves are given respectively a decreasing and an increasing area in the direction of fluid flow such that the eflfective area at any point is proportionate to the amount of fluid to be carried at that point. This provides for a more constant fluid velocity through these passages than is otherwise obtainable. In addition, a pair of passages extending around opposite sides of the head are brought together at 3| into an eifective area equal to the total eifective area of the individual joining passages and in such a manner that the two fluid streams are traveling in much the same direction when they join, so that their confluence is occasioned with a minimum of turbulence and eddying.

In other words, the fluid intake and discharge passages I and III in the cylinder head are suitably streamlined and proportioned to provide for smooth flow of fluid therethrough, thereby reducing the turbulence and eddying to a minimum, and these passages are of increasing cross sectional area as they extend away from the valve mechanisms, so that they are of their greatest cross sectional area and volumetric capacity respectively at their points of primary intake and ultimate'discharge. Such a design not only provides for smooth flow of fluid, but also reduces head weight and cost of manufacture. As shown in Fig. 2, branches 34, 34 of the discharge passage extend arcuately about a central boss 35 in the head and join at 3| at the apex of a head portion 36 in a single passage communicating with the opening 9 and discharge passage 5, The

aaiaaso intake passage 1 extends downwardly between .the branches of the discharge passage at 31 has very definite advantages, principal among which are flrst, that fluid delivery connection can be made to the cylinder instead of the head, so enabling removal of the head for inspection and servicing of valves without disturbing the fluid piping, and second, that the flrst advantage is accomplished without the necessity for objectionable friction creating bends in the fluid passages which would otherwise be necessary to accomplish this result. In accordance with the usual practice, sealing gaskets are interposed between the joining surfaces between the various parts to prevent leakage. If desired, the intermediate plate may be formed integral with th cylinder head, although for manufacturing purposes the separate plate is more practical.

As a result of this invention it will be noted that an improved fluid passage means is provided for a fluid compressor or pump, whereby a smooth flow of fluid to the inlet valve means and discharge of fluid from the discharge valve means is attained. It will further be noted that by arranging the valve mechanism in the manner disclosed, and by recessing the compressor piston so as to receive a portion of the valve structure when the piston is in its upper position, the clearance space at the upper end of the cylinder is reduced to a minimum, and as a result, the volumetric efllciency oi the compressor is materially improved. It will further be noted that by means of the improved discharge passage orrangement, it is possible to form the discharge connection integral with the compressor cylinder so that the compressor head may be readily removed from the cylinder without disturbing the discharge connection. Other advantages of the invention will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there is in this application specifically described one form which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of iilustration and the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Iietters Patent is:

1. In a fluid compressor or pump, a cylinder having a bore, a piston reciprocable in said bore, a plate, a cylinder head, said head and plate secured to said cylinder with the plate interposed and clamped between the head and cylinder, said plate having an opening alined with the cylinder bore and said head having at its side nearer the cylinder a centrally located projection extending within said plate opening, and valve means associated with said head and including an annular valve plate secured to said head at the side of the latter nearer the cylinder and surrounding said projection and providing an annular flow passage between said valve plate and projection.

2. In a fluid compressor or pump, a cylinder having a bore, a piston reciprocable in said bore, a plate, a cylinder head, said plate and head secured to said cylinder with the plate interposed and clamped between the head and cylinder, said plate having an opening alined with the cylinder bore and said head having at its side nearer the cylinder a centrally located projection extending within said plate opening, and a valve mechanism embodied in said head including an annular valve plate secured to said head at the side of the latter nearer the cylinder and surrounding said projection and providing an annular flow passage between said valve plate and projection, said piston having a peripheral lip providing a central recess and said valve plate and head projection received in said piston recess when said piston is in its most proximate position to said head.

3. In a fluid compressor or pump, a cylinder having a bore, a piston reciprocable in said bore, a plate, a cylinder head, said plate and head secured to said cylinder with the plate interposed and clamped between the head and cylinder, said plate having an opening alined with the cylinder bore and said head having at its side nearer the cylinder a centrally located projection extending within said plate opening, and inlet and discharge valve mechanism embodied in said head including an annular valve plate secured to said head at the side of the latter nearer the cylinder and surrounding said projection, said valve plate and head projection spaced from one another and from the wall of said plate opening to provide concentric annular flow passages, said piston having a peripheral lip providing a central recess and said valve plate and head projection received in said piston recess and said lip received in said annular passage between said valve plate and the walls of said plate opening when said lpisggn is in its most proximate position to said 4. In combination, in a pump, means providing coaxial annular inlet and discharge passages, diametrically opposite inlet and discharge connections, passage means connecting said inlet connection with said inlet passage and having cross sectional areas proportional to the cross sectional areas of the portions of the inlet passage to be supplied, and passage means extending from said discharge passage to said discharge connection and having cross sectional areas proportional to the cross sectional areas of the portions of the discharge passage from which fluid has been delivered.

5. In combination, in a pump, a central annu- Ilar inlet passage having valve means controlling Q the same, a surrounding discharge passage having valve means controlling the same, branching passages diminishing in cross sectional area proportionally to the decrease in cross sectional area of the portion of the inlet passage to be supplied .5 and leading to opposite portions of said inlet pasof the portion of the inlet passage to be supplied and extending arcuately in opposite directions to opposite portions of said inlet passage, and merging passages increasing in cross sectional area proportionally to the increasein cross sectional area of the portion of the discharge passage from which fluid has been delivered and extending arcuately in opposite directions from opposite portions of said discharge passage, each of said passages provided with smooth continuous curved surfaces.

'7. In a fluid compressor or pump, a cylinder having a bore, a cylinder head, a discharge connection formed integral with said cylinder, a plate interposed between said cylinder and head and having openings forming continuations of said cylinder bore and said discharge connection rspectively, means providing coaxial inlet and discharge passages, passage means connected with said inlet passage diminishing in cross sectional area proportionally to the decrease in cross sectional area of the portion of the inlet passage to be supplied, passage means in said head extending from said discharge passage to said discharge connection increasing in cross sectional area proportionally to the increase in cross sectional area of the portion of the discharge passage fromwhich fluid has been delivered, and each of said passage means having smooth continuous-curved surfaces directing fluid flow in a path of least resistance.

8. In a fluid compressor or pump, a member provided with flow passages and having a plane surface through which said flow passages open at one end, a valve plate secured to said member and having a central fluid flow passage, an annular valve seat surface on said plate, a member having an opening therethrough whose peripheral wall is concentric with and surrounds said valve plate and is spaced from the outer periphery of the latter to provide an annular flow passage, said second mentioned member also having an annular valve seat surface lying in the same plane with the valve seat surface on said plate, a valve seat- :ing on the annular valve seat surfaces on said second mentioned member and said plate forcontrolling fluid flow through said annular flow passage, said valve plate having an internal valve WIN' W. PAGE-T. 

